Massey University Block 5 upgrade

Block 5 on Massey University’s Wellington campus is a seven-storey concrete building with multiple link bridges connecting it to adjacent buildings. Our team got to work in 2020 replacing all the windows, staging the work so the building could remain occupied.

We surveyed, deconstructed and rebuilt using existing materials where possible, with our site team carefully assessing, labelling and protecting materials to ensure they could be reused. Our sustainability team investigated recycling options for window glass that could not be reused, discovering a local recycling option that since been used on a number of our projects. The window glass was broken down and made into glass wool insulation or bottles, diverting 600kg of glass away from landfill.

The project evolved into a seismic upgrade during the contract, wrapping the columns and beams with a fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) system and a near total rebuild of the timber-framed seventh floor offices. The change in scope meant we needed to remove half of the existing cladding plus the structural timber framing and plywood on the top-floor roof and walls. With five of the remaining six levels still occupied, we installed a massive Layher NZ Keder roof system, shrink wrapping each floor as we dropped through the levels to prevent water egress. This called for strategic planning and detailed engineering to navigate wind loading and tie-in to the building, with trusses being installed 50 metres in the air.

After three-and-a-half years on site, we had replaced the windows and carried out seismic strengthening work on all seven floors, replaced the roof, and completed fitouts on two levels.

Block 5 has seen decades of use by multiple university and polytech tenants, and it was a privilege to ensure it remains fit for future generations.